Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Martin Buckley, motoring journalist and classic car author whose first book was published when he was just 19. Martin has written over 20 car books including the acclaimed Facel Vega volume, and his passion stems from his parents' collection of rusty BMWs, Lancias, and Jaguars.

This episode explores how car books shaped Martin's career. From his first books about BMW E9s to writing the Facel Vega history (dealing with sniffy French owners' clubs), Martin shares stories about swapping price tags in Manchester bookshops and why sometimes it's better to have the brochure than the car. We discuss Italian design versus German engineering, why the BMW CS is the perfect shape, and why exotic cars are everywhere now.

Featured Books

BMW The Bavarian Motor Works by Michael Frostick - Martin's first proper car book

The MG File - Martin's first published book at age 19

Facel Vega (Palawan Press) - Martin's masterpiece, £750 when published

British Leyland The Truth About the Cars by Jeff Daniels (1980) - Brilliant BL decline account

Jaguar by Paul Skilleter - Where Martin learned Jaguar history

The Controversial Corvair - Ralph Nader's "unsafe at any speed" story

What You'll Learn

• How Martin published his first book at 19 years old
• Why BMW E9 CS is the perfect shape - part Italian, part German, masculine and feminine
• The story behind the Facel Vega book and hostile French owners' clubs
• Why Italian designers beat German ones (they made suits of armour first)
• How Martin's parents' rusty exotic cars shaped his career
• Why it's better to have the brochure than the car sometimes
• Why exotic cars are everywhere now (finance deals, not cash buyers)

Key Questions

Should an author's opinion come through in car books?

Yes - readers want new information, not regurgitated facts. The best books interview people who were actually there. Martin wants books with soul, like Jeff Daniels' British Leyland book capturing the tumbleweed moment when they unveiled the Austin 3-litre disaster.

Why are Italian designers better than Germans?

Italians were good at making suits of armour and bashing metal over stumps for centuries. They have design houses like Bertone and Pininfarina. Germans prioritise practicality over beauty. Even pretty Mercedes were designed by Italians. The BMW E9 CS was probably designed by Gandini - too good to be German.

Did your parents' cars shape your career?

Absolutely. Martin's dad bought rusty exotic cars for £1,500 in the 1970s - BMW 2800 CS, Lancia Flavia, Jaguar S-Type, Fiat 130. They were symbols of a way out, cars that shouldn't have been on their road. Martin says "I wanted to get in these cars and fuck off."

A Nod to

Palawan Press - Published Facel Vega bookSt John Square Manchester - Where Martin swapped price tagsChaters Bookshop Manchester - Specialist car book shopJeff Daniels - Autocar journalist, British Leyland book authorPaul Skilleter - Started Practical Classics

Get in Touch

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

#MartinBuckley #CarBooks #FacelVega #BMWE9 #PalavanPress #ItalianDesign #ClassicCarAuthor #MotoringJournalist #BritishLeyland #TheOldCarLady #RustyExoticCars

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions